Ghanaian trombonist to host kids peace concert ahead of elections

Jointly organised with Ghana-based Swiss musician and entrepreneur Beda Ehrensperger, the event will see the children play tunes with messages of peace composed by Eli to remind Ghanaians of their responsibility to avoid political violence before, during, and after the elections.

“The kids that Beda and I have brought together can become victims of electoral violence if we are not careful,” Amewode said. “This is what the kids want us to avoid in Ghana, the only place we call home. These kids are already disadvantaged in many ways, and for them to be displaced by political violence will be too much to bear”.

The Brass Democrats project is a philanthropic effort set up by Eli six years ago and assisted by three fellow musicians: Farco Bright, Mensah Prince, and Issah Wodrago. They travel around communities in the country teaching disadvantaged children, aged between five and 15, to play brass instruments. Over 200 kids are involved in the project nationwide.

Ehrensperger holds similar classes around the Ashongman community, teaching children to play various musical instruments.

“I learned to play trombone at an early age back in my hometown Keta in the Volta Region of Ghana as a child,” Amewode said. “That is what I live off in my adulthood as a musician. The Brass Democrats project, for me, is a way of giving back to society and leaving a legacy, teaching these kids music skills that would probably make them great musicians of the future.”

Aside from this project, Amewode has also set up the traditional avant-garde jazz collective Accra Quartet, which recently released their debut album Gbɛfalɔi via US label FPE Records. He is a member of Westcoast Ebusua, a jazz fusion band based in Accra.

Eli has travelled widely, both in Africa and elsewhere, playing with world-class artists such as Cameroonian bass player Richard Bona, Ivorian percussionist Oswald Kouame and Ghanaian highlife giant Ebo Taylor among others.